On Saturday for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. IKEA stores in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran will switch off their non-essential lights, for example, outside sign and parking spotlight in support of Earth Hour, which is a global World Wildlife Fund (WWF) climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn their lights off for one hour all at the same time to show their support for global action on climate change.
The event began in Sydney in 2007, when two million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. Last year, about 1 billion people from more 4,000 cities and towns across 88 countries switched off their lights for one hour. Global landmarks that participated last year were London's Big Ben, the Sydney Opera House and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Estimates are that more than 100 countries will be participating this year. IKEA, which offers home furnishings with good design and function at low prices so that many people can afford them, incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into day to day business on a global level, and continually supports initiatives that benefit the environment and our children in the future. IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943 and there are currently 271 IKEA stores in 25 countries of which most will participate in Earth Hour including Saudi Arabia.
IKEA and the WWF have co-operated on a global level since 2002 toward a decreased ecological footprint by promoting responsible and sustainable use of resources. Today the partnership includes projects on forestry, climate and sustainable cotton production on three continents.
© Arab News 2010
